How Hong Kong’s homeless are kept out of sight by urban design
City dwellers may rarely notice all these unfriendly designs that are incorporated into local public spaces, commonly found in older and poorer districts like Kwun Tong, Sham Shui Po and Yau Ma Tei.
These often-disguised elements are designed to keep homeless people and signs of poverty out of sight. These installations are a strong indication of the silent yet determined attitude of the authorities to dissuade street sleepers and the poor from occupying them.
Watch: Hong Kong’s hostile architecture hurts city’s homeless and poor
Evicted street sleepers with few places to go but back to the streets
With the aid of these real and imaginary borders, the government can effectively and efficiently manipulate society according to its agenda. It can avoid spending resources on hiring extra manpower for constant intervention and surveillance.
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Most passers-by are indifferent to the presence of homeless people in public spaces. But the homeless can never lead a life on a par with other community members, given the lack of dignity and respect in their lives.
Creating clean, orderly and safe public spaces using architectural design is undeniably beneficial to the quality of life of all Hongkongers. However, is driving all uncomfortable reminders of social inequality out of sight and minds through the use of hostile and self-defeating architectural design the only viable way to tackle the issue?
Adrian Lam, Kornhill